Magnetic coupling with low moment articulated plug

Abstract

A plug for connecting to an electronic device includes a housing having an aperture, a magnetic element positioned in the aperture and having a second aperture, at least one contact within the aperture and the second aperture, a cord connected to the housing, and a mechanism configured to reduce a moment arm on the housing when a force is applied to the cord. The plug may be used as part of a connection that further includes a receptacle having a magnetic element with a recess, wherein the recess comprises an aperture, and at least one contact extending through the third aperture and into the recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A plug for connecting to an electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a first surface, a first aperture in the first surface, and a second surface; 
 a magnetic element positioned in the first aperture and having a second aperture; 
 at least one contact within the first aperture and the second aperture; 
 a cord connected to the second surface of the housing, wherein the second surface of the housing is opposite the first surface of the housing; and 
 a recess in the second surface configured so that an intersection between the cord and the second surface is displaced toward the first surface relative to a non-recessed portion of the second surface, wherein the recess is perpendicular to the second surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the contact is a fiber-optic contact, and
 further comprising at least one electrical contact within the first aperture and the second aperture. 
 
     
     
       3. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the non-recessed portion of the second surface to the intersection between the cord and the second surface is from greater than or equal to about 20% of the width of the plug to less than or equal to about 80% of the width of the plug. 
     
     
       4. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the recess is from greater than or equal to about 1.5 times the diameter of the cord to less than or equal to about 3.0 times the diameter of the cord. 
     
     
       5. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the magnetic element is in the first position, a distal surface of the magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and wherein when the magnetic element is in the second position, the distal surface of the magnetic element is substantially coplanar with the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       6. The plug of  claim 5 , wherein when the magnetic element is in the second position, the first surface of the housing, the distal surface of the magnetic element, and distal surfaces of the at least one contact are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       7. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein a distal surface of the magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and the magnetic element comprises a recess where at least a portion of the distal surface of the magnetic element is displaced toward the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       8. The plug of  claim 7 , wherein the first surface of the housing and distal surfaces of the at least one contact are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       9. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured to reduce a moment arm on the housing when a force is applied to the cord. 
     
     
       10. A connection for connecting one or more electronic devices comprising:
 a plug comprising:
 a housing having a first surface and a first aperture in the first surface, 
 a first magnetic element positioned in the first aperture and having a second aperture, 
 at least one plug contact within the first aperture and the second aperture, 
 a cord connected to a second surface of the housing, wherein the second surface of the housing is opposite the first surface of the housing, and 
 a recess in the second surface configured so that an intersection between the cord and the second surface is displaced toward the first surface relative to a non-recessed portion of the second surface, wherein the recess is perpendicular to the second surface; and 
 
 a receptacle comprising:
 a second magnetic element having a recess, wherein the recess comprises a third aperture, 
 at least one receptacle contact extending through the third aperture and into the recess, 
 
 wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are configured to be mated to one another. 
 
     
     
       11. The connection of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one plug contact and the at least one receptacle contact are fiber-optic contacts,
 the plug further comprises at least one plug electrical contact within the first aperture and the second aperture of the plug, and 
 the receptacle comprises at least one receptacle electrical contact extending through the third aperture and into the recess. 
 
     
     
       12. The connection of  claim 11 , wherein the plug and the receptacle have a corresponding number of fiber-optic contacts and a corresponding number of electrical contacts. 
     
     
       13. The connection of  claim 12 , wherein corresponding fiber-optic contacts of the plug and the receptacle form an optical connection when the plug and the receptacle are mated. 
     
     
       14. The connection of  claim 12 , wherein corresponding fiber-optic contacts of the plug and the receptacle form an optical connection when the plug and the receptacle are mated, and corresponding electrical contacts of the plug and the receptacle form an electrical connection when the plug and the receptacle are mated. 
     
     
       15. The connection of  claim 10 , further comprising an overmolded section positioned between the cord and the housing, and
 wherein the overmolded section is more flexible than the cord. 
 
     
     
       16. The connection of  claim 10 , wherein the magnetic element is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the magnetic element is in the first position, a distal surface of the magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and wherein when the magnetic element is in the second position, the distal surface of the magnetic element is substantially coplanar with the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       17. The connection of  claim 10 , wherein a distal surface of the first magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and the first magnetic element comprises a recess where at least a portion of the distal surface of the first magnetic element is displaced toward the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       18. The connection of  claim 10 , wherein the receptacle further comprises one or more magnets, wherein second magnetic element comprises a first surface configured to mate with the plug, and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the magnets contact the second surface of the magnetic element. 
     
     
       19. The connection of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is configured to reduce a moment arm on the housing when a force is applied to the cord. 
     
     
       20. A plug for connecting to an electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a first surface, a first aperture in the first surface, and a second surface; 
 a magnetic element positioned in the first aperture and having a second aperture; 
 at least one contact within the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the contact is a fiber-optic contact; 
 at least one electrical contact within the first aperture and the second aperture; 
 a cord connected to the second surface of the housing; and 
 an overmolded section positioned between the cord and the housing, wherein the overmolded section is more flexible than the cord. 
 
     
     
       21. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the overmolded section bends at forces from greater than or equal to about 0.25 pounds to less than or equal to about 10.0 pounds. 
     
     
       22. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the overmolded section has a variable diameter and the minimum diameter of the overmolded section is positioned in the middle of the overmolded section plus or minus 25% of the length of the overmolded section. 
     
     
       23. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the overmolded section may be formed from a member selected from the group consisting of elastomers, silicones, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       24. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the second surface of the housing is opposite the first surface of the housing, and the plug further comprises a recess in the second surface of the housing configured so that an intersection between the cord and the second surface is displaced toward the first surface relative to a non-recessed portion of the second surface. 
     
     
       25. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the magnetic element is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the magnetic element is in the first position, a distal surface of the magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and wherein when the magnetic element is in the second position, the distal surface of the magnetic element is substantially coplanar with the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       26. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein a distal surface of the magnetic element extends through the first aperture and beyond the first surface of the housing, and the magnetic element comprises a recess where at least a portion of the distal surface of the magnetic element is displaced toward the first surface of the housing. 
     
     
       27. The plug of  claim 20 , wherein the overmolded section is configured to reduce a moment arm on the housing when a force is applied to the cord.